Ladies Of Letters. Image shows from L to R: Irene (Prunella Scales), Vera (Patricia Routledge). Copyright: BBC
Ladies Of Letters

Ladies Of Letters

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 1997 - 2010
  • 71 episodes (11 series)

A series of letters exchanged between two indomitable ladies. Stars Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge. Stars Prunella Scales, Patricia Routledge and Anne Reid.

Press clippings

Radio Times poll of best radio comedies

Radio 4 panel show I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue has come top of a Radio Times list of the greatest radio comedy shows.

British Comedy Guide, 17th November 2020

Review: Ladies of Letters Go Crackers

This deliciously funny two-hander is full of beautifully true details, but there is a new bittersweet taste to the hilarity.

Elisabeth Mahoney, The Guardian, 31st December 2010

The comedy returns for five episodes. Vera (Patricia Routledge) is preoccupied with the recession, and experiences a slow-down of her own: her computer isn't working and she resorts to pen and paper. In her response, Irene (Prunella Scales) recounts "the solar panel episode", in which Vera mistook her device for a sun lounger, with shattering consequences. Vera has stopped watching the news for fear of hearing about financial catastrophe, too. "Even the Today programme has a question mark over it," she says. "I listen with earplugs at the ready."

Jod Mitchell, The Telegraph, 1st May 2009

Lou Wakefield and Carole Hayman's gloriously comic creations Vera and Irene return, exchanging missives and misunderstandings that produce some glorious comedy. Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales return to the roles - ITV3's versions in the form of Anne Reid and Maureen Lipman were fun, but pale shadows of the original.

Scott Matthewman, The Stage, 1st May 2009

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